terminology of "homosexuality"

[susanmcgee48176]

The term homosexual can be used as an adjective to describe the 
sexual attractions and behaviors of same-sex oriented persons. Some 
argue that the use of "homosexual" as a noun is offensive, arguing 
that homosexual people are people first, homosexual being merely an 
attribute of their humanity. Also, some recommend that the terms 
homosexual and homosexuality be avoided altogether, lest their use 
cause confusion or arouse controversy. In particular the description 
of individuals as homosexual may be offensive, partially because of 
the negative clinical association of the word stemming from its use 
in describing same-sex attraction as a pathological state before 
homosexuality was removed from the American Psychiatric Association's 
list of mental disorders in 1973. Even as late as the 1990s, 
the "Read code" system, used by the National Health Service in Great 
Britain, classed male homosexuality and lesbianism under mental 
disorders, as conditions E2200 and E2201 respectively, although this 
system has since been replaced. The use of the word "homosexual" in 
describing individuals and same-sex relationships may also be 
inaccurate, as people involved in such relationships may identify as 
bisexual, pansexual, or another orientation.

Same-sex oriented people seldom apply these terms to themselves, and 
public officials and agencies often avoid them. For instance, the 
Safe Schools Coalition of Washington's Glossary for School Employees 
advises that gay is the "preferred synonym for homosexual",[1] and 
goes on to advise avoiding the term homosexual as it is "clinical, 
distancing and archaic":

Sometimes appropriate in referring to behavior (although same-sex is 
the preferred adjective). When referring to people, as opposed to 
behavior, 'homosexual' is considered derogatory and the terms 'gay' 
and 'lesbian' are preferred. Homosexual places emphasis on sexuality 
and is to be avoided when describing a person. 'Gay' man or lesbian 
are the preferred nouns which stress cultural and social matters over 
sex. 
The Guardian Style Guide, Newswatch Diversity Style Guide, American 
Heritage Dictionary, and the Committee on Lesbian and 'Gay' Concern 
of the American Psychological Association's Avoiding Heterosexual 
Bias in Language all agree that "gay" is the preferred term.

Likewise, the use of homosexuality to describe sexual behaviors 
between people of the same sex may be inaccurate, although it is not 
perceived as being as offensive as homosexual.

People with a same-gender sexual orientation generally prefer the 
terms gay, lesbian and bisexual. "Lesbian" refers specifically to 
women; gay can apply to both men and women, although unqualified 
usage would more often be referring to men. Other terms include same-
gender-loving and same-sex-oriented.